Magnolia Intertie An Update

Transcription

1 Magnolia Intertie An Update Frank M. Howell, PhD K4FMH President, Magnolia Intertie Inc. (601) magnolia-intertie.com

2 Prospectus Definition of Intertie Linked Repeaters in Mississippi Motivations and Concepts for Magnolia Intertie Mission, Objectives, Organization Technical Development Phases Charitable Outreach Current Status and Prospects Your Role and Participation

3 Definition of Intertie In ter`tie` n. 1. (Arch.) In any framed work, a horizontal tie other than sill and plate or other principal ties, securing uprights to one another. n. 2. (Power) An interconnection permitting passage of current between two or more electric utility systems.

4 Linked Repeaters in MS One has been the Pineland Repeater System Led by Jimmy Ready N5LRQ in Seminary MS Connects several repeaters from Collins, Hattiesburg, Laurel region Was important in post-katrina era linking to the Jackson metro area Another is the North Central Storm Chasers & Spotters

5 Motivations & Concepts for Magnolia Intertie Why has there not been a statewide system? Audience response Why should there be one? Audience response To be successful, these questions need to be addressed

6 Concepts for an Intertie Spent a full year researching successful U.S. Intertie systems All gave various ideas to get started but all gave a single reason as to why they lasted DO NOT attempt a confederation of amateur radio clubs!

7 Concepts (cont.) What is a linked repeater system? Engineer: RF-transmission system for longer range than single repeaters would effectively yield ("let's hook up wires") Social Scientist: a socially organized means of communication amongst a segregated group of persons ("let's design it to meet the human to human needs for communication flow") Organization of Intertie = technical organization + social organization (taken from Howell 1986) Magnolia Intertie has been designed to leverage these two dimensions rather than just "hook up wires"

8 Mission To promote the responsible use of amateur radio repeaters in Mississippi, the region, and the nation. To build, maintain, and manage a strategic backbone of amateur radio repeater systems as a central activity. To identify and secure the financial resources to maintain, update, and expand the Intertie system as needed. To work cooperatively with the official frequencycoordinating agency for amateur radio repeaters in Mississippi. To facilitate to technical training of all amateur radio repeater trustees in Mississippi and beyond. To encourage innovation in the use of repeaters and relevant technologies and applications. To support identified served agencies in their operations to protect, sustain, and enhance communities.

9 Objectives Backbone system for Intertie Application system for clubs and others APRS digipeaters at strategic backbone sites Digital voice and data system to parallel analog devices Broadband IP-based mesh system

10 Organization Non-profit tax-exempt (501c3) corporation in State of Mississippi Comprised of Officers, Board of Directors, Technical Advisors, External Advisory Board, and Working Groups Two Key Working Groups include: Technical Group: determine standards for the backbone, equipment, connectivity, maintenance, frequency coordination, and related. Network Control Group: handle periodic nets operating on Intertie, determine script and ID requirements, and work with external clubs or individual repeater trustees who are approved to link into the Intertie backbone network. External Sponsors

11 Technical Development Phases Phase I Linked repeater system backbone, designed to be linked 24/7, as the main conduit for Intertie voice communications traffic using analogue FM. Phase II APRS Digipeaters and I-Gate nodes as needed on backbone sites. Microwave mesh IP technology such as HamWAN and Broadband HamNet to each Intertie backbone site. Phase III Digital voice and data communications as technology and marketplace evolves.

12 Charitable Outreach As tax-exempt non-profit, the Intertie has a charitable outreach program French Camp Academy is the current program as they desire an active amateur radio program for their students. Intertie is providing leadership in the development with donors in the equipment and license/operational training. See website for details.

13 Current Status & Prospects Statewide Our current negotiations and agreements for backbone repeater sites utilize combinations of hospital rooftops, MPB towers, and Corps of Engineers towers. Rooftops are much cheaper for installation, have emergency power, and Internet connectivity. Towers are taller but more expensive. Some combination will be used to best serve hospitals and MSHEARN. Major highway corridors are our current focus: I-20, I-55, I-59, US 45, US 82, MS 25, MS 49

14 Current Status (cont.) North Mississippi

15 Current Status (cont.) Central Mississippi

16 Current Status (cont.) South Mississippi

17 Current Status (cont.) I-20 by 2015

18 Your Role in the Magnolia Intertie KG5FCI = Friendly Conversation Intertie Good outcome = MS hams knowing each other better Promotes effective use of linked repeater systems Backbone will be open to all individual licensed operators who observe both FCC operating procedures and the Intertie priorities Any and All Directed Networks MUST apply for use with the Intertie according to procedures developed by the Network Operations Working Group and approved by the Board. Process will be published on the Intertie website

19 Your Role in the Magnolia Intertie We will begin our formal fund-raising drive as soon as our approval for public solicitation is received from MS Sec of State. Will be seeking annual external sponsors and crowdsourced support Donations are eligible for tax-deductions with IRS Similar to Salvation Army without bell-ringing! PayPal, Kickstarter, Patreon, GoFundME, and others will be used as per Finance Working Group's recommendations Our needs are primarily heliax cable ($9/ft), tower climbing/installation, and equipment Example: WFCA tower site at 600' platform for both 2M & 70cm repeaters, APRS digi, 5ghz microwave cost ~ $6,000

20 Questions? Thanks for listening! Contact Information: Frank M. Howell, K4FMH Good on QRZed magnolia-intertie.com